Whether you’re upgrading your old system or moving into a new home, you’ll want to take special care when it comes time to pick out your HVAC system. The fact is that it’s easy to get a system that won’t perform optimally. This often leads to higher-than-average electricity bills and even more frequent repairs. We’ll walk you through some common considerations you should take into account before you buy a new HVAC system.
If you’re looking for a reliable service for HVAC in Waxahachie, TX, Dial One Johnson Plumbing, Cooling and Heating has the pros you need to get the job done right the first time. We can help you find the perfect HVAC system for your home; just give us a call at 972-291-0740.
Make Sure You’re Getting the Right Size System
In the world of HVAC, bigger is not always better. Getting the right size air conditioner for your home is essential if you want to make the most out of your system and keep your house comfortable all year long. So what happens when your unit is too small or too large?
For starters, if your unit is too small, it just won’t have the power you need to cool your home properly. Conversely, a large unit may provide adequate cooling power but be incredibly inefficient. What often happens is that large units will cycle on and off frequently. This not only wastes energy but also does damage to the unit itself — meaning you might need to replace the system way earlier than normal.
Get Professional Help
While you can get some rough estimates based on your home’s square footage, you really want to get an HVAC specialist involved for accurate assessments. In most cases, qualified contractors will perform a load calculation to determine what size system you might need.
Your HVAC technician will take into account several key factors:
- Home size
- Climate zone
- Roof material
- Home’s orientation toward the sun
- Number of appliances in your home
- Other factors
As you can see, it’s much more than just square footage. For example, your local servicer for air conditioning repair in Waxahachie might consider the heat coming from all the bulbs in your home. Often, specialists will perform complicated measurements like the ACCA’s Manual J calculation to get the most efficient and accurate measurement for your home’s new system.
Energy Efficiency is Important
It should come as no surprise that major appliances like your HVAC system consume quite a bit of your home’s energy. To get the most out of your system, you’ll need to take into account energy efficiency and consumption. This not only helps you consume less energy but also helps reduce the overall costs of running your system.
This is for both the heating and cooling portions of your HVAC system. For furnaces, energy efficiency assessment takes the form of Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE) measurements. Conversely, your HVAC technician will use the Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER) to access your air conditioning unit. This SEER number will give you an idea of the energy efficiency of your system. Other factors, like the size of your home and environmental concerns, will always play a role in efficiency — but the SEER number of a unit is a good gauge.
New units will often be more energy-efficient due to changing standards set by the Department of Energy. In most cases, you’ll want a new unit with a SEER number of at least 14. Keep in mind that you can find units with even higher SEER numbers of 14-22. These would be energy-efficient units.
Where is Your HVAC System Going to Go?
Another consideration you’ll need to make pertains to the actual placement of your outside unit. This is often the last thing a homeowner might think about, but it plays an essential role in how your unit operates. Additionally, building codes may dictate where how close your unit can be to your home and where it can go.
First, you’ll want to make sure your unit has enough room to breathe. For most installations, this means keeping a few feet of clearance between the unit and building obstructions like walls. You’ll want to avoid placement near other appliances like your kitchen’s ventilation system. Lastly, while keeping your outside unit hidden with landscaping might seem like a good idea, covering the area with bushes and shrubs might mean poor airflow and extra debris.
If you’re planning on installing a new unit, you’ll want to consider the quality of the soil underneath the proposed installation site. If soil is sandy and less than sturdy, it might mean you’ll need to install a condenser pad. This will ensure the heavy equipment won’t sink into the ground.
Always Keep Track of Annual Maintenance
So, those are some of the considerations for residential HVAC installations you should keep in mind, but what about keeping your new unit running smoothly? Keeping a regular maintenance schedule is the best way for you to get the most out of your unit in terms of lifespan. Neglecting maintenance will not only risk your HVAC system’s health but also most likely void any manufacturer’s warranty.
Talk with your local servicer for HVAC in Waxahachie, TX, to establish a regular maintenance schedule. While you can do a lot on your own, like changing out your air filters, a visit from a professional means that every element of your system is ready to go.
This will not only mean your system is always running smoothly, but regular checkups can also save you energy. For most systems, both annual checkups and seasonal maintenance are recommended.
Looking for Reliable Air Conditioning Repair in Waxahachie?
If you’re getting a new AC system, you’ll need to find a professional service to handle maintenance and repairs for your HVAC in Waxahachie, TX. Here at Dial One Johnson Plumbing, Cooling and Heating, our team of qualified HVAC technicians can help with everything from routine maintenance to emergency repairs. If you’re ready to get started, reach out online to schedule an appointment.
Author Bio:
Sherrie Johnson-Hartsock
Dial One Johnson Plumbing, Cooling & Heating is now owned and operated by Sherrie Johnson-Hartsock, with his grandson, Daniel Johnson, a third-generation plumber who is also the Service Manager.